The foreign office is investigating claims by Russia's security services that they have arrested two spies working for British intelligence.
In a programme to be broadcast on Russian television tonight, a former director of Russia's state security service will say that the spies are under arrest and have begun giving information to their interrogators.
According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Nikolai Kovalyov, the State Duma legislator, will say on the programme: 'Two British spies have been arrested. Of course they are not silent, they are talking.'
A duty officer at the FSB, Russia's federal security service and the KGB's main successor, said he could not confirm the report and that it was not clear whether the individuals were British or Russian.
British diplomats in Russia have the normal immunity from arrest but the Foreign Office in London has admitted it is asking the foreign ministry for information and contacting its staff in the region. 'We have not been notified of any arrests. It is not clear from reports that they are talking about British staff,' added a spokesman.
Last week, Russia accused Britain of running a James Bond-style spying operation in Moscow, using a receiver hidden in a fake rock to gather secret data. Four UK diplomats were said to be involved in the operation, which also involved siphoning money to pro-democracy and human rights organisations.
A Russian citizen who had allegedly been recruited by British intelligence while abroad was arrested last week for treason and confessed to espionage, according to the FSB. It is not clear whether this is one of the same two agents who are now said to be under arrest.
Moscow's central allegation last week was that MI6 was covertly funding 12 non-governmental organisations. It produced documentation which it said proved that claim.
In a programme to be broadcast on Russian television tonight, a former director of Russia's state security service will say that the spies are under arrest and have begun giving information to their interrogators.
According to the Russian news agency Interfax, Nikolai Kovalyov, the State Duma legislator, will say on the programme: 'Two British spies have been arrested. Of course they are not silent, they are talking.'
A duty officer at the FSB, Russia's federal security service and the KGB's main successor, said he could not confirm the report and that it was not clear whether the individuals were British or Russian.
British diplomats in Russia have the normal immunity from arrest but the Foreign Office in London has admitted it is asking the foreign ministry for information and contacting its staff in the region. 'We have not been notified of any arrests. It is not clear from reports that they are talking about British staff,' added a spokesman.
Last week, Russia accused Britain of running a James Bond-style spying operation in Moscow, using a receiver hidden in a fake rock to gather secret data. Four UK diplomats were said to be involved in the operation, which also involved siphoning money to pro-democracy and human rights organisations.
A Russian citizen who had allegedly been recruited by British intelligence while abroad was arrested last week for treason and confessed to espionage, according to the FSB. It is not clear whether this is one of the same two agents who are now said to be under arrest.
Moscow's central allegation last week was that MI6 was covertly funding 12 non-governmental organisations. It produced documentation which it said proved that claim.
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